Senior Communications Manager

OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice in New York City seeks a Senior Communications Manager to lead content creation, media relations, and web development. This hands-on role requires storytelling finesse, adaptability, and the ability to translate complex policy into accessible content.

Reporting to the Chief of Public Affairs, you will craft speeches, drafts, and talking points, while guiding social media and website strategies to engage diverse communities and reporters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Associate degree with two years of relevant experience.
• Four-year high school diploma with four years of relevant experience.
• A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience as described above.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage social media content and strategy, including short-form video production and editing, photography, copywriting, and growth of engagement.
• Manage MOCJ's public-facing website with clear, accessible content.
• Support media relations and rapid-response communications, including drafting press releases and responding to inquiries.
• Tell compelling stories about MOCJ's work by identifying community perspectives, data, milestones, and opportunities that demonstrate impact.
• Monitor news and social media for emerging issues, opportunities, and risks requiring agency attention.
• Draft speeches, talking points, briefing materials, and polished presentations for senior leaders for internal and external audiences.
• Support internal communications, including the weekly employee newsletter.
• Ensure communications are accurate, accessible, consistent, and aligned with priorities.
• Attend community meetings and press events as needed.

Skills

Social media strategy

Content creation

Photography

Video editing

Writing

Public relations

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate degree + 2 years experience

High school diploma + 4 years experience

Combination of education and experience

Tools

Website CMS

PowerPoint

Job description

About the Office:

The Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) serves to make New York City's criminal justice system smaller, safer, and fairer. MOCJ develops and implements innovative strategies - with partners inside and outside government - to reduce crime and incarceration, promote fairness and legitimacy, prevent offending, and build strong neighborhoods that ensure enduring safety.

About the Role:

The Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice - New York City's Swiss Army Knife of an agency for all things criminal justice is looking for a Senior Communications Manager who can do it all: content creation, media relations, web development, and more.

Reporting to the Chief of Public Affairs, this is a hands-on role with wide latitude for creativity, initiative, and action. We're looking for a versatile self-starter with excellent writing and storytelling skills and a knack for translating complex issues into engaging, easy-to-understand content.

The ideal candidate can move comfortably from developing a social media video to pitching a reporter; from updating a website to drafting executive talking points. The candidate should know the exact right moments to use AI - and all the moments when a human touch is more necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE - BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Develop and manage social media content and strategy, including short-form video production and editing, photography, copywriting, and identifying opportunities to grow engagement.
• Manage MOCJ's public-facing website, including developing and updating clear, accessible, user-friendly content.
• Support media relations and rapid-response communications, including drafting press releases and other press materials, responding to media inquiries, developing pitches, and building relationships with reporters.
• Work with program and policy teams to tell compelling stories about MOCJ's work by identifying community perspectives, data, research, milestones, and other opportunities that demonstrate impact.
• Monitor news and social media for emerging issues, opportunities, and risks requiring agency attention.
• Support senior leadership at MOCJ and City Hall by drafting speeches, talking points, one-pagers, briefing materials, and polished PowerPoint presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Support internal communications, including MOCJ's weekly employee newsletter and other agency-wide communications.
• Ensure communications are accurate, accessible, consistent, and aligned with MOCJ and City Hall priorities.
• Support the agency at community meetings, press conferences, and other public events, occasionally outside core office hours.

Minimum Qualifications

1. 1. Do you have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university?
2. 2. Do you have an associate degree from an accredited college or university along with two (2) years of experience with administrative, analytic, coordinative, supervisory or liaison responsibilities?
3. 3. Do you have a four-year high school diploma, or its educational equivalent approved by a state's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization along with four (4) years of experience as described in question "2" above?
4. 4. Do you have a satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to that described in questions "1," "2," and/or "3" above?

Preferred Skills

• Experience with social media strategy and content creation, including photography, videography, and video editing.
• Experience with website development and content management.
• Experience with media relations and/or public relations.
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills.
• Strong judgment and attention to detail.
• The initiative and time management skills to work independently, with multiple priorities, on tight deadlines.
• The interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with executives, different government teams, and partners across the community.
• At least five years of experience in government, public policy, advocacy, or nonprofit communications - or a related field, such as journalism. Familiarity with New York City's criminal justice system is a plus.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.